The Court of Appeal yesterday (11 Apr) unanimously decided to acquit Sam and overturned her previous guilty verdict, which carried a fine of RM6,000 and a six-year prison sentence.
Parents of ‘Basikal Lajak’ disappointed with Sam Ke Ting’s case results
This decision finally marks the end of the highly publicized case, which has garnered the attention of Malaysians since 2017 until now.
On the flip side, the parents of Mohamad Azrie Danish Zulkefli, one of the eight young boys killed in the basikal lajak tragedy, are heartbroken by the Court of Appeal’s decision to acquit Sam Ke Ting.
According to New Straits Times, Fatimah Nasir, 49, the mother of Azrie, expressed that they had no choice but to come to terms with the court’s ruling, despite the immense pain and hardship it caused.
“Even though six years have passed since we lost Azrie, the tragedy still haunts us,” she said, noting that a mother’s memory of her son would never fade.
Parents of Basikal Lajak victims address public criticism
“We (the family members of other victims) had anticipated that Sam would be cleared when the case reached the Court of Appeal. We’re truly disheartened, but we must accept it, remain composed, and continue with our lives,” Fatimah told NST.
She also addressed the public criticism the families have faced for allegedly neglecting their children and allowing them to ride modified bikes on the main road during the early hours of the morning.
“We would have definitely stopped them if we knew they had sneaked out… show me any parent you know who would have allowed their children to cycle on a main road in the wee hours of the morning? This is our test from the Almighty, so we have to accept it,” Fatimah said.
Fatimah’s husband also shared the ongoing grief and trauma the families experience each time the case is taken to court.
“I’m sure Sam has regrets and will be haunted by this tragedy for the rest of her life. Let us and Sam deal with our emotions and move on,” he said when contacted by the English daily.
Overview of Sam Ke Ting’s Case
Sam had been accused of crashing into and causing the deaths of Azrie, 14; Shahrul Izzwan Azzuraimie, 14; Firdauz Danish Mohd Azhar, 16; Fauzan Halmijan, 13; Azhar Amir, 16; Harith Iskandar Abdullah, 14; Shahrul Nizam Marudin, 14; and Haizad Kasrin, 16, on Feb 18, 2017.
She was initially charged under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 (Act 333), which provides for a maximum prison term of 10 years and a fine of RM20,000 upon conviction.
The 28-year-old clerk was first acquitted and discharged by the magistrate’s court on Oct 28, 2019, after the prosecution’s case concluded without her defense being called.
The prosecution appealed the magistrate’s decision to the High Court, and on Feb 18, 2021, the Johor Baru High Court returned the case to the magistrate’s court, instructing Sam to present her defense after allowing the prosecution’s appeal.
The magistrate’s court acquitted Sam for a second time, but an appeal was filed, and the High Court overturned the decision.
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